Combination toilet preparations dispenser



March 9, 1943. G. wADswoRrH COMBINATION TOILET PREPARATIONS DISPENSER Filed Sept. 25, l 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9, 1943. Q WADSWORTH 2,313,184

COMBINAI'IONA TOILET PREPARATIONS DISPENSER Filed sept. 25, 1940 s sheets-sheet 5 MNA QQM

NMN

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 COMBINATION TOILET PREPARATIONS DISPENSER Gordon Wadsworth, chicago, 1u.

Application September 25, 1940, Serial No. 358,307

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to toilet preparation dispensers and is particularly concerned with an improved device of this character wherein a toilet preparation, such as tooth paste, soap, or shaving cream, may besupplied in limited quantities in accordance with the needsV of the user. I

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser adapted to receive a container in which the toilet preparation is commercially packaged and to provide means for ejecting the preparation from the container in limited and controlled amounts. A further object is to provide a dispenser of this character which includes means for perforating the preparations container to provide an outlet for the preparation. A further object, and one which is particularly directed to the matter of sanitation, is to provide a dispenser which acts externallyr on the preparations container in ejecting the contents.

In carrying out my invention, the preparation, which may be in paste or powder form, is packaged in a cylindrical container closed at one end in the fashion of an ordinary tin can. The other end of the container, after the container has been filled, is closed by a cooperating disc or piston which closely abuts the inner sides of the container. 'The end of the container closed bythe disc or piston is bent inwardly upon itself to securely hold the disc in place on top of the preparation inthe container. My dispenser is adapted to receive the container, to perforate the closed end thereof and to provide meansfor urging the opposite end closing disc lengthwise of the container with the'rresult that the preparation is forced out through the perforation. l

A further feature of the present invention is the utilization of the dispenser actuating member to open the outlet during the time the preparation is being forced from the container. At; such time as the device is not being used the actuating member covers the outlet and prevents any of the preparation from falling out under Vthe action of gravity. The presenceof the outlet closing feature is also desirable from the standpoint of sanitation. v

In the accompanying description and drawings, I disclose one possible embodiment of my invention. It is my ideaV that a combination including a plurality of individual dispensers and compartments for miscellaneous items, such as shaving equipment and tooth brushes, is a logical commercial embodiment of my invention.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein this preferred embodiment is shown. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings and description are not to be taken to limit the invention except insofar as it is limited to the claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of my dispenser;

Fig. 2 is a plan view in partial cross section of the combination embodying the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, but showing the door in open position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1 showing the details of a unit dispenser;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 showing a slight modification in my dispenser unit;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing the construction of the screw means which urge the disc or piston longitudinally of the container, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1-4 thereof, a plurality of dispensers IIJ,II and I2 are mounted, by means of brackets I3, at spaced intervals on a back board I4. compartments I5 and I6 are disposed between adjacent dispensary units. The compartments have bottoms I'I and I8, respectively, and side walls I9 and 20, respectively. The compartments are further defined by tops 2I and 22, respectively, and swinging doors 23 and 24. The doors 23 and 24 may be semi- Vcylindrical to harmonize with the cylindrical shape of the dispensers Ill, II and I2. Hasps 25 are provided on each door and cooperate with grooves 26 in the bottoms of the compartments to provide means for locking the doors in closed position.

For purpose of illustration, tooth brushes 30 are supported by means of bracket 3l in the swinging door 23 of the compartment I5. As will be noted, considerable space within this compartment is provided to accommodate miscellaneous articles. A shaving brush 33 is mounted by means of bracket 34 in the swinging door 24 of compartment IB. Within the compartment, bracket 35 receives safety razor 36, and receptacle 31 is provided to receive discarded razor blades. Other uses for the space within the compartments will no doubt occur to users of the combination.

Referring now to Fig. 5, my improved dispenser comprises an upstanding cylindrical member 40 having exterior threads 4| of limited length at the upper end. A cap member 42 is received by the threads 4| and is adapted to be more or less permanently associated with the member 40. A tubular member 43 having a knurled enlarged top portion 44 extends downwardly through a central opening in the cap 42. The knurled portion 44 rests on the top of cap 42 and annular flange 45 on the tubular member 43 cooperates with said.V

knurled portion to retain the said member 43 in proper longitudinal relationship with said cap'42. As will be understood, the tubular member 43 may be rotated with respect to the fixed cap 42. A ratchet wheel 4S is fixedly mounted on the tubular member 43 to impart rotary motion thereto as hereinafter described.

The lower end of the cylindrical member 49 is enlarged as shown at 55 and the enlarged portion is provided with interior threads A bottom cap member 52, somewhat similar to the top member 42, has its end exteriorly threaded to engage the threads 5| of the member 40. The cap member 52 has a central opening 53 in its bottom and a circular knife 54` extending upwardly from the edge of said opening. The upper edge of the knife is sharpened whereby topenetrate the bottom of an inserted container. As will be understood, before the cap member-52 is screwed to the member 4B, the container is forced down into the cap member so the circular knife 54 is forced through the container bottom and, since the knife has a lower portion that is flat and not sharp, the cut out portion of the container bottom is bent upwardly as indicated at 55.

In order to impart rotary motion to the ratchet wheel 46, I provide a series of pivoted link members terminating in pawl 6|! which engages the ratchet wheel 46 as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The shank 60 of the pawl 50 extends through opening 6| in the capmember 42 and is pivotallyconnectecl to link 52, which link is pivoted to arm 63 projecting from the side of cap member 42. Fixedly associated with the link 62 at the second mentioned pivot is link 54, which link has its free end pivotally connected with link 65 which extends substantially the length of cylindrical member 49. A fixed arm 66 projects from the lower portion of cylindrical member 49. Pivoted thereto is link 61. 'I'he free end of the link 65 is pivotally connected to the link 61 near the mid point of said link 61. An arcuate link 68 is pivoted to the free end of link 61 and terminates in an enlarged portion 59 adapted to cover the opening 53 in the bottom of the cap member 52. Lug 10 projects downwardly from the enlarged portion 69 to provide means for manually actuating the above described series of links. A spring member 1| pro-- jects downwardly from the cap member 52 for the purpose of removably retaining the link 68 and enlarged portion 69 thereof in close association with the bottom cf cap member 52.

As will appear from the dotted lines in Fig. 5, the lug 1D is intended to be pushed rearwardly of the dispenser unit and, through the above dcscribed series of links and pivots, to impart rotary motion to the ratchet wheel 45. In order to remove the lower cover member 52, the link 68 may be swung away from its retaining spring member 1|, thereby clearing the way to unscrew the said cap member.

Contained within the tubular member 4'3 is a series of telescoping tubular screw members 15, 16 and 11. The construction of the series of telescoping screw members is somewhat similar to that of the well known automobile jack. The lower end of tubular member 43 is provided with an interior annular flange 35, as shown in Fig. '1, which ange is interiorly threaded to receive the exterior threads of screw member 15. Annular flange 8| is provided at the upper end of screw member 15 to prevent said screw member from disassociating itself from the tubular member 43. The lower end of tubular screw member 15 is provided with an interiorly threaded flange 82 which receives the threaded screw member 16. The said screw member 16 has flange 83 to prevent disassociation with screw member 15. Similarly, the said screw member 15 has at its lower end interiorly threaded flange 34 which receives the screw member 11. The said Vscrew member 11 has flange 85 to limit longitudinally displacement of member 11 with respect to member 16.

The free end of screw member 11 has associated therewith a container top engaging member 9|). The member 90 is adapted to bear on said container top and urge said top downwardly as the above `described telescoping means is extended under the influence of rotated tubular member 43.

Having thus fully described my improved dispenser unit, I now pass to the consideration of the container adapted for use in such dispenser unit. The container comprises a cylindrical member S5 having one end closed as shown at 96. Centrally of the closed end 96 there may be provided a cylindrical extension 91, the end closing portion 55 of which is perforated as previously described to provide an outlet for the preparation within the container. A disc member 98 closes the opposite end of cylindrical member 95 and is adapted to be slid longitudinally within the said member 95 in the fashion of-a piston. The disc 98 may be provided peripherally with a rubber or the like material 99 to insure positive contact with the Wall of the member 95. The disc member 98 is provided with spaced upstanding ribs |00 adapted to receive the member 96 carried by the screw 11 previously mentioned. The upper edge of the container cylinder 95 is bent inwardly upon itself as shown in |0| to provide means for holding the disc 98 in initial position within the container.

To operate my dispenser, the link 68 is first removed from the spring 1|, thereby permitting removal of the lower cap 52 of the dispenser. Before a new container may be inserted in the dispenser, it is necessary to retract the screw members 15, 16 and 11. This is done by manually turning the knurled head 44 of tubular member 43. Before this may be done, however, it is necessary to disengage pawl 66 from the ratchet wheel 46. For this purpose I provide lever |55 associated with shank 60 of pawl 60. Slight elevation of the lever provides the necessary disengagement. After the screw members 15', 16 and 11 have been retracted within the tubular member 43, the old container is removed and a fresh container is inserted through the bottom opening of the cylindrical member 40. As the cap 52 is applied to the member 40, the circular knife 68 perforates the bottom 96 of the inserted container as hereinbefore described. The bearing member carried by screw 11 is then moved down until it is received between the spaced upstanding ribs on the disc member S8 to prevent relative rotation of the parts. The link 68 is next brought into engagement with spring member 'I I, thereby bringing its enlarged end 69 over the outlet 53. As will be readily understood, actuation of the lug 'I0 in correspondence with the dotted lines in Fig. 5, causes rotation of the tubular member 43, thereby extending the screw members 15, 'I6 and 17. Such extension, of course, causes the disc member 98 to be urged downwardly within the cylindrical container 95, thereby forcing limited amounts of the preparation through the outlet 53.

A modification of my new improved unit is shown in Figs. 6 and 8. The general make-up of this dispenser unit is the same as the unit previously described, the only variation being in the means for imparting rotary motion to the ratchet wheel 46. In this case I provide a sliding bar I I which moves vertically on the front side of my dispenser unit. Lug I II projects from the bar I I0 to provide means for manually actuating said sliding bar. Pipe straps or the like IIZ, pass around the sliding bar I I Il to retain it in position on the front face of the dispenser. An arm IIS projects from the rear of sliding bar I I0 into the dispenser through elongated opening II4. Link IIE has one end pivoted to the arm IIS and has its other end rigidly mounted to rotatable rod I I6. Rigidly associated with rod I I6 is link I I'I having its free end pivotally connected to shank I I8 which carries pawl H9. The pawl II9 engages ratchet wheel 46 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. When the sliding bar IIO is moved upwardly as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 6, the pawl H9 is displaced to the right and imparts rotary motion to 46. Lever I2Il provides means for disengaging the pawl and ratchet wheel when it is desired to retract the telescoping screw means.

In connection with the lower cap member of the dispenser I have provided a horizontal outlet passage |25 which delivers the preparation at the front of the dispenser. The lower end of the sliding bar I IU normally covers the outlet end of the passage |25, but when the bar is slid upwardly to force some of the preparation out of the dispenser the covering is, of course, removed to permit a i'low of preparation from the outlet.

From the above description it is believed clear that I have provided an improved dispenser of the class described wherein various preparations may be delivered in controlled amounts in accordance with the requirements of the user. The device, furthermore, substantially eliminates any possibility of wasting the preparation. The sanitation aspects of my improved device are believed to especially distinguish over prior device of this general character. There is no transferring of the preparation from its original container to the dispenser nor is there anything except a small cutting edge inserted into the original container used with my dispenser.

It is believed that the nature and advantages of the present invention and the manner of its use will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A preparations dispenser comprising a container receiving member, caps closing the ends of said member, one of said caps being removable to permit insertion of a container, said removable cap having an outlet aperture and a cutter adapted to perforate the container in line with said outlet as said cap is being secured to said container receiving member, an extensible device within said member adapted to bear on the inserted container, and means for actuating said extensible device, said means including a portion covering said outlet aperture except when said means are actuated.

2. A preparations container and dispenser, said container comprising a body portion closed at each end, the closure'of one end being a piston movable longitudinally of said body portion, said s dispenser comprising a container receiving portion having an outlet aperture at one end and means to perforate said container in line with said aperture, an extensible device adapted to bear upon and longitudinally urge said piston of said container, and means for actuating said extensible device, said means including a portion covering said outlet aperture except when said means are actuated.

3. A preparations dispenser and container, said dispenser including a container receiving member, caps closing the ends of said member, an extensible device within said member and supported by one of said caps and adapted to bear on an inserted container, said extensible device comprising telescoping parts adapted to expand or contract by relative rotation of the opposite ends of said device, said container including an end closure comprising a piston provided with a seat for engagement with one end of said extensible device to hold said end against rotation, and means for rotating the opposite end of said device.

4. In a preparations dispenser and container, an extensible device within said dispenser and comprising telescoping parts adapted to expand or contract by relative rotation of the end parts, an imperforate piston closing one end of said container and adapted to receive an end of said extensible device and to hold said end against rotation, the opposite end of said container having an aperture which registers with an aperture in the dispenser, and a means for rotating the end of the extensible device remote from the piston, said means vincluding a portion covering said aperture in the dispenser except when said means are actuated.

GORDON WADSWORTH. 

